Premier League Preview with Paul Robinson
The former England stopper can’t see any twists in the title race THIS week…
Despite everything that’s gone on with Jurgen Klopp these last weeks and how Liverpool lost at Arsenal, it’s fair to say this is a very different Liverpool to last season when they went to Brentford and shipped 3 goals (again). 54 points, 2 clear at the top. This time last season they had 36 points and were sat in 7th place.
Brentford, on the other hand have shipped too many goals this season. They’ve only kept 4 clean sheets all season, and the injuries don’t help Thomas Frank at all. The Bees feel the loss of so many players a lot more than some other clubs can. The win last week against Wolves was a huge relief for them. It broke up a run of indifferent results, but they only had 28% possession. They've not been the same team at home.
Liverpool with 2 defeats all season, 16 wins and 55 goals in those 24 games at 2.29 goals per game on average – and with Mo Salah coming back into the mix - there's definitely going to be goals. I do fancy Brentford to get on the scoresheet but I think Liverpool have got too much fire power.
After that, you've got Burnley-Arsenal and the Gunnrs looking like they're hitting their straps. Two points behind Liverpool in 3rd and actually if you remember this time last season Arsenal were well clear at the top and we know what happened then. This time they're playing a different role in that they're chasing both Liverpool and Manchester City but the recent results have been great. The 6-0 against West Ham and beating Liverpool, plus the win against Forest, and the 5-0 home win against Palace which triggered this run. They look to be the real deal and also will have one eye on Porto on Wednesday in the Champions League but an away trip to Burnley isn't quite as daunting as it was a couple of years ago. The Clarets keep doing what they're doing, playing the way that they're playing and yes it’s pleasing on the eye and they have the principles, but they're not affecting teams – certainly not this Arsenal team. This really would be a coupon buster for anything other than an arsenal win, and a very comfortable one is what I’m going for.
In the final game of the day City could have some extra pressure added to their home game against Chelsea, but the engines have started at the Etihad haven’t they?
They were outstanding in Europe in midweek. 11 straight wins in all competitions, sitting second with a game in hand: t's looking ominous, isn't it? The only thing that can beat Manchester City at the moment is themselves with defensive mistakes. They’ve conceded 11 times with their first shot on goal.
Chelsea…well we talk about Chelsea every week. They’re sitting 10th this season, they finished 12th last season. They can score goals but they struggle to keep clean sheets, conceding too many. Cole Palmer going back to his old club is probably Chelsea's best player this season. Could he get on the scoresheet and is Nkunku fit enough to cause City problems? Add a bit of value by putting an away goal in there and a cheeky one with Cole Palmer scoring against his old team.
Comments